6 Ways to keep your laptop safe while travelling

FOR many of us, our laptop is more than a gadget, it’s an appendage that we wouldn’t dream of leaving home without.

But, according to a user-generated database, Airport Lost and Found, travellers lost over 10 000 laptops, smartphones, tablets and other personal electronic devices in seven of the largest airports in the world between June 2012 and June 2013.

What’s more, the Ponemon Institute released a study indicating that over 600 000 laptops will be lost or stolen at US airports every year, with 65 – 69 percent of them remaining unclaimed.

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According to John October, spokesman for Dial Direct Insurance:  “Airports are one of the top 10 places where laptops are likely to be stolen. This mostly occurs at security checkpoints, in toilets or when the people disembark from a flight and are disorientated after the journey.

“Theft and loss occur more when you are distracted, stressed and in crowds.  A survey conducted by Dell found that 80 percent of those asked say they know someone who has lost a laptop at an airport.”

Remember that expensive gadgets like laptops are not automatically insured under a home contents policy.

“You have to notify your insurer to include valuables that you carry around with you under the portable possessions or all-risks section of your policy,” says October, adding “we highly recommend this before you travel.”

There are many ways that your laptop can come to harm or get stolen while you are travelling. Follow these tips to prevent this from happening:

• You’ll probably be asked to remove your laptop from its bag and put it through an X-ray machine. Place your laptop in a bin by itself before putting it through the X-ray machine at security. Reclaim and secure your laptop as quickly as possible once you are through the screening process.

• Never put your laptop or tablet in your checked baggage as this increases the risk of it being stolen. Also, the cabin pressure and low temperatures in the hold may cause damage.

• If you use your laptop before boarding, take the same precautions that you would in any other public space. Never leave your laptop unattended.

• Protect the information on the laptop by backing up your data before you travel or keep any important or sensitive data separate from the laptop on a flash drive, CD-ROM, or external hard drive.

• If you can’t separate the data from the laptop, put password protection on the laptop.

• Make sure to have a proper laptop-specific carrying case with plenty of padding and protection. Separate compartments for accessories and power cables will keep your PC scratch and dent free.

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